This is where I was all day yesterday with my ladies. It was my third time going, and my favorite time yet.
If you live in Ottawa or Gatineau and haven’t been - GO!
You start in either the dry sauna or mint steam bath (my fav) for 10-15, that’s if you can make it that long. Usually at 10 minutes I’m practically running for the door because I’ve stayed my max amount of time before melting.
After the heat therapy, you go under an ice cold waterfall for 2 seconds. This opens your pores, and relaxes your muscles. Just as you’re wondering why you would do such a thing, you feel completely calm and ready for relaxation. It’s so worth it.
The relaxation part is where you really find your “balance”. If someone could read my mind they would think I was overly optimistic. I guess everyone reflects about different things, but I always find myself being so thankful for everything….seriously. It’s so hard not to be when you’re on cloud nine. They have rooms that are dedicated to sleep in; you could seriously waste half of the day there if you’re not careful. They also have these little heated huts (not shown in the picture) where there is a fireplace on a rock and all these comfy chairs around it. The girls and I kept gravitating towards that place yesterday, it was so relaxing.
Last but not least, they have these whirlpools and hot tubs. A good time to catch up and talk (quietly). Everywhere else in the spa they demand silence, but you can get away with whispering in the hot tubs. Well, that’s until you look up and see a employee standing there with a silence sign. It’s really hard not to burst out laughing because it is so awkward!! haha
We also ate at the restaurant and over indulged for sure, but how often do you get that opportunity? Sitting at a fancy restaurant with no make-up on, wet hair, with only a towel on? Yes please.
If you don’t live in Ottawa you should definitely find something similar in your area. The pictures were taken from the Nordik Spa’s website: http://nordik.akufendev.ca/en/homepage/
Thanks for reading xo
empty.
Lost my camera. Maybe this is a good excuse to invest in a DSLR? I have no idea where to begin though!!!
impatience is a virtue
Seriously ShoeDazzle? Sending my beautiful shoes back to sender? I guess I’m going to have to wait a couple more weeks until they ship back to Canada. #WAHN.
Followers make me happy. :)
Subscription services - officially addicted.
I sometimes wish I never discovered these, but we all know if you’re in touch with the blogging world AT ALL, you read about them constantly. It’s just impossible.
These are one thing that I have little of what I like to call… will power. I’m currently signed up for:
ShoeDazzle
Luxe Box
Glymm
Topbox
aaaaand as of 10 minutes ago, Glossy Box. [fml]
ShoeDazzle is for shoes, jewelry, and handbags. It’s $40/mnth but you can skip the month if nothing excites you (rare). They also have this amazing “Steals” section, where everything is half off. You can find beautiful shoes and everything else for $20. It’s free shipping in the U.S and an extra $9 to ship to Canada. This kind of turned me off of signing up at first… but then I thought about it and paying a grand total $29 (if they’re on sale) or $49 full price, is not that bad.
As for these beauty boxes…each one sounds better than the last, so obvi I need to subscribe. I guess one good thing is I won’t be getting/paying for Topbox until May. Glymm box won’t be coming until February, and Glossy box will be coming in March. They just started shipping to Canada in the last week and they are selling out like crazy.
Glossy box is a little more expensive than the others ($15/mnth), BUT that includes shipping and taxes. It ends up being a couple dollars more than the others after everything.
My plan is to see which two I like better in the next few months and cancel the other two. Whether or not that plan actually happens, we shall see.
Their website’s/my referral link :)
ShoeDazzle:
http://www.shoedazzle.com/invite/l94ghoob5
Glymm:
http://www.glymm.com/share/babyface__3
Luxe Box:
http://luxebox.loosebutton.com/friend-sign-up?referrer=ZmFjZjFiYWY=
TopBox (no referral link):
http://www.topbox.ca/
GlossyBox:
http://beauty.glossybox.ca/invitation/NzAy?utm_source=Customers&utm_medium=link&utm_term=NzAy&utm_campaign=Refer-a-friend/
Silica & Biotin Hair Supplements
If you haven’t heard of Silica or Silicon supplements, they are a supplement many people take to improve the look or feel of their hair, skin, and nails. It also makes your bone density stronger, so that’s bonus. :)
Biotin is supposed to have pretty much the same effects in regards to hair.
Starting Jan.3rd, I’ve been taking Biosil (Silicon + Choline), which apparently helps the Silicon be absorbed better. I’ve also been taking 1000mcg of Biotin daily.
I wasn’t expecting any immediate results because it’s not supposed to have a huge effect until a few weeks into it. My hair has been on a major growth spurt this past month, everyone’s commenting so it’s not just my imagination. The biggest difference so far that I’ve seen is my EYELASHES! I am so happy. I have always had short-medium length lashes, and I saw a difference after the first week of taking both of them.
Since I’ve been taking both the Biosil and Biotin, I can’t really say what is doing what.. but I recommend purchasing both. The Biosil is a little more expensive ($29), but the Biotin was only $8.
I will definitely keep you guys posted and let you know if I see any more changes in the next few weeks.
Hope this review helped xo
EDIT: My eyebrows are growing too!!! Mostly my left one. LOL Not sure if this a good thing. :| but I’ll take it with the other results.
Sigh, my new beauties…. and no I’m not talking about the hideous shoes to the right. These, ladies & gents… are what I will be wearing for the rest of my career in Nursing - YAY me. Thank God there will be plenty of nights out to get dressed up and have an excuse to keep wearing normal shoes/heels :)
I’ve been looking for the perfect nude heel for months!! I haven’t worn them yet but looking at them is just as satisfying.
They were $37 down from $125 = amazing.
Only a few things..
I picked up these things a week or so ago. I love boxing dale sales <3
The bf got me the two babyliss products from Trade Secrets as one of my Christmas gifts. I’ve seen a lot of blogging reviews about the iron so I added it to my wish list. :)
I’ve used the iron a couple of times and let me just say… I have naturally straight native hair, so my hair doesn’t hold a curl very long. When I used this the first time I went out in a blizzard and it lasted all day. I was super impressed.
The babyliss hair dryer dried my hair in no time. My hair also seemed shinier compared to when I used the old Conair one.
I picked the Lula wallet up at Access. They are shutting down in Bayshore Mall so they’re having a huge sale right now. It was reg $40 (approx) and I bought it for $6.99. It’s super soft and metallically coloured, which I love.
Last but not least…. my FAVORITE find of the day: Steve Madden’s!!! Spotted them from the corner of my eye while walking past Joneve. That store was closing as well. I want to do a separate review just for them <3 they’re that special. :)
Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium and Ceramic Curling Iron (1-1/4”): http://www.flatironexperts.com/Babyliss-Pro-Nano-Titanium-Curling-Iron-p/bnt125sc.htm
Amazon!!
Oh how I love Amazon. Just had all my textbooks delievered to my door for less than $100. Ordered them on Friday! :)
Tried out a couple of my new E.L.F products. love love love
Wine Making
If you know me at all, you know I love my wine. I used to spend waaay too much on it..until I discovered wine making. It’s my go to drink all the time: relaxing, pre-drinking, dinner. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier.. I would have saved a lot of money, haha. My roommate & I have been making our own wine for about a year now. I highly recommend if you love it just as much as me. It’s so easy!!
If you live in Ottawa, check this winery out: http://corksottawa.ca/ It’s where we’ve been going for the last few batches. The owner is so nice!
All you do is pick the type of wine you want (we chose a German Riesling this time). You sprinkle some yeast on it, go back in 5 weeks and bottle it. :) It’s that simple.
It works out to be $3-4 a bottle vs $10-12 when you buy it at the LCBO or wherever you go. I recommend upgrading to the medium concentrate ($4/bottle)
& VOILA! 30 bottles of wine :)
